This isn't the 1980's and here in the future things are different, machine made no longer means 'cheap', and affordable doesn't mean crap. Made in China doesn't mean cheap plastic(for the most part).

I know the thrill of getting amazing guitars, but no one guitar makes me a better player. I think some people feel they need to play "professional" guitars to feel better. My first Gibson didn't bring any results that I couldn't get with the epiphone I already had. But still I rather play a Gibson Standard than a Epi Custom Pro, at least if I have the choice and the money and a coupon.

I am paying for luxury that my skills have proven to need(i think), so its all based on what luxuries your life can afford to acquaint your playing level. Its just like your car, some people drive Geo Metro's and are great drivers and some of us drive Nissan Maxima's and we can't even drive a stick. Still my Maxima is way faster and cooler(even though the Metro has better MPG), but they both get us from point A to point B, I just look cooler and feel more comfortable in the Maxima, even if the Geo Metro costs less on gas to go the same distance.

Brand name pickups, maple top, hollowed body, nice inlays, brand name bridge and tuners....I mean these pieces add up and add more luxury.

Guitar Making is the greatest art in the world, and companies like Gibson have the secret recipe. Between Gibson Standard, and an Agile AL-3125, is like a company like Kroger making a Cola to replicate what Coke does. Its packaged differently, and the taste in your mouth isn't much different(and if you never tasted Coke before you wouldn't even know the difference), but when its all done, it has the same effect on you, the only difference you paid much less for the Kroger experience, even if the ingredients were virtually identical.

I see it as many others do. Epiphone, and hell, even Squier are coming into their own. What I mean is the QC is getting better, materials and workmanship are getting better as well.

The line between cheap and expensive is starting to really blur, also, the line between inexpensive and quality is also blurring, more so then ever before. Lets just be happy we get kick ass guitars to play.